Info for all!

[AutumnAir]

I was just reading the other thread about formula supplementation and clicked on this link.
I burst into tears while reading it - my perfectly healthy daughter was fed formula in the hospital behind my back. According to the nurses it was because she'd lost weight (all babies lose weight after they're born!) and my milk hadn't come in 24 hours after the birth (average is 2-5 days!). I refused to let them give her anything so they came into the room while I was in the toilet and took her away and fed her formula.
I'm just so sad that her opportunity for optimal health was stolen from her by a bunch of ignorant nurses. I would love if the information in this article was made mandatory reading for everyone who comes/will come into contact with a new mom and baby.
Nurses and doctors obviously, but also new parents themselves and their friends and families; you know, the well-intentioned aunt who says 'Oh, just give him a bottle at night when you're tired'.
I wish this sort of stuff was more widely known.

[lmj928]

Hi! I'm sorry, I don't see a link... I'm guessing it is similar to a link i saw on kellymom about how "just one bottle" really does hurt, it changes the flora of the gut in the newborn or something. I agree, they should give this to every pregnant mom who is planning to "try" to breastfeed, as it might give her a little more motivation to keep at it and not supplement if she doesn't really need to. My baby went to the nursery one time after i had him bc i hadn't slept in 48 hrs or something and i just needed a break, i told them no pacifier or bottles, i just hope they listened to me, but I guess I will never really know.

[AutumnAir]

I forgot to add the link! Here it is.
I was just wondering if there's any way we could campaign to have information like this given to all hospitals and new mothers at least.
I mean, surely it's not too much to expect that people who spend their working day dealing with new mothers and babies would at least know the BASICS about breastfeeding.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I believe the formula they gave my dd in hospital because of severe jaundice made a difference. I will never know for sure though but I wish I had MDC back then but didnt find it till after ds was born. So much I could have done differently.

[Swan3]

Originally Posted by lisabeeprague

I forgot to add the link! Here it is.
I was just wondering if there's any way we could campaign to have information like this given to all hospitals and new mothers at least.
I mean, surely it's not too much to expect that people who spend their working day dealing with new mothers and babies would at least know the BASICS about breastfeeding.

Were you able to continue BF?

[elizaMM]

Originally Posted by lmj928

My baby went to the nursery one time after i had him bc i hadn't slept in 48 hrs or something and i just needed a break, i told them no pacifier or bottles, i just hope they listened to me, but I guess I will never really know.

Feeding a child without a mother's permission should be illegal. With all the laws about privacy and all the letigiousness you'd think one could prevent it. Grrr.

[AutumnAir]

Originally Posted by Swan3

Were you able to continue BF?

Fortunately, yes, but with some huge difficulties (nipple confusion - bad latch - mastitis - not properly treated for months) due in large part to her being given formula in a bottle by people who had no business doing so.
But I'm glad to say I finally overcame those problems and we're still nursing strong at 9 months.
However, I came really very close to giving up so many times and could easily see how someone, no matter how adamant about BFing, would be backed into a corner and end up giving up under similar circumstances. I wish we could do something to make sure that it just doesn't happen - how many breastfeeding relationships have been doomed before they even started, or made far more difficult than they should have been, simply because of this?

[Viola]

Originally Posted by lisabeeprague

I'm just so sad that her opportunity for optimal health was stolen from her by a bunch of ignorant nurses.

My first daughter had formula in the hospital too, and I worried about it later when I found out about the pristine gut as a reason for never giving any formula. However, I read something recently, I believe in Breastfeeding Made Simple that made it sound like their gut flora would revert to normal a few weeks after the last formula was given. I know there are issues, and I don't want to minimize those, but I just wanted to let you know that it's not completely hopeless.

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by Viola

My first daughter had formula in the hospital too, and I worried about it later when I found out about the pristine gut as a reason for never giving any formula. However, I read something recently, I believe in Breastfeeding Made Simple that made it sound like their gut flora would revert to normal a few weeks after the last formula was given. I know there are issues, and I don't want to minimize those, but I just wanted to let you know that it's not completely hopeless.

That is good to hear! When my ds was in the NICU and i left to go take a shower I came back to a nurse shoving a bottle in his mouth. i was FURIOUS! A few drops of the crap definitely got into his mouth, i could smell it on him and see it in his mouth. Luckily he spit up all up; however, he did develop some severe dairy intolerance issues through my breastmilk and i had to give up all forms of dairy for him. I will always wonder if this is why!? ughgughghugghhhh